You talk about it being creepy that Santa “sees you when your sleeping, he knows when you’re awake…” The reality is that children are always watching. Whether they’re yours, ones that you take care of, or simply ones that happen to be in your vicinity children are wired to mimic what they see adults doing. They are always watching!
Sometimes we gloss over the word always, but I have chosen that word intentionally. They are ALWAYS watching. In their teen years, when they say they don’t care, your children are watching you. Before they have the ability to accomplish the speech, actions, or habits of your life, they are keeping an eye on you because you are the example of how life is to be led.
Your child(ren) are ALWAYS watching you.
They learn to talk because of the words that you use. They learn to walk, because of and through you. They learn to love the way you love. They learn to care about the things you care about. They learn to… and be careful here… hate the things you hate.
Your children are watching not only the things you do, but the way in which you do those things. The reason God gave them you, is so that they can watch you and learn how to live this life. He built a training system into the fabric of life, and while you may not officially have the gift of teaching, or training, you have the ability to be you, and if you seek to be the best you, you can be, according to the gifts God has given you, they will see it and learn to do the same. It’s easier to see when they’re babies, but as they grow they will do it, even subconsciously.
I recall first my son, early on in his ability to speak, using a word (and not a ‘good’ word) that, purposefully, my wife nor I had used since he began to talk. I am convinced that he heard the word early in life, because he was listening and watching us before he could talk, and then he used it (albeit) appropriately when he dropped something!
Take heart, they want to be like you, and imitation is the highest form of flattery. However, I would highly recommend, that you keep an eye on your own behavior… and if there is something that is not appropriate for them, just get rid of it (don’t try to hide it from them… that doesn’t work)!